Selective licensing in Luton
Yes. Luton operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Common questions
Do I need a selective licence in Luton?
Yes. Luton operates a selective licensing scheme. Letting a covered property without a licence risks a civil penalty of up to £40,000 and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent.
Which areas of Luton does the scheme cover?
Town Centre and Park Town areas of Luton, specified by road rather than by whole ward. Confirm a specific address against the council's own designation map before applying.
When does Luton's scheme end?
The designation runs until 4 February 2029, unless the council revokes it earlier under section 84 of the Housing Act 2004.
What does the licence cost?
£488 for monitoring. Councils commonly discount for accredited landlords and early applications; confirm the current figure with Luton before budgeting.
Paid in two parts — one on application, the balance before the licence is issued.
| Part 1 | £122 |
| Part 2 | £366 |
| Total | £488 |
- Renewal is charged as the licence fee
- Online application free, paper adds £51.60
- Discount stacks with it
- Discount only thereafter: accredited landlord minus £122, or EPC band C or above minus £122
- One discount only thereafter: accredited landlord minus £122, or EPC band C or above minus £122
Luton — Luton selective licensing fee structure PDF, read 19 Aug 2026
What the designation says
Luton operates a selective licensing scheme covering the town centre and Park Town areas. The designation was made on 25 October 2023 and the scheme went live on 1 June 2026. Within the designated areas every privately rented home needs a licence regardless of how many people occupy it, so an ordinary flat or a house let to a single household is caught as well as shared housing. Because the designation covers named areas rather than the whole borough, a landlord should check a specific address against the council's published boundary rather than assume from the postcode. Licence fees are charged in two parts: Part A covers processing the application and is not refundable, and the remainder covers monitoring and enforcement and is refunded to unsuccessful applicants. The council ran an early-bird payment period to support landlords applying. Letting an unlicensed property inside the designated area is a criminal offence carrying a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution, and exposes the landlord to a rent repayment order. The £40,000 ceiling applies to offences committed on or after 1 May 2026; the £30,000 ceiling still applies to offences committed before that date.
What this means for a landlord
A licence must be in place before the property is let, not applied for afterwards. Operating unlicensed in a designated area is a criminal offence: a civil penalty of up to £40,000 per offence and a rent repayment order of up to two years' rent. Both maxima apply to conduct on or after 1 May 2026; before that date they were £30,000 and twelve months. Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 and possession now runs through the amended section 8 grounds. Mandatory HMO licensing applies separately and everywhere, wherever a property is let to five or more people forming two or more households.
Information tool, not legal advice. Confirm the position with Luton before letting.